‘Swami…’ will project fallacies in system, says Ahire

Gajendra Ahire’s forthcoming movie ‘Swami Public Limited’ will take a dig at people blindly following self-styled godmen and the “business” made out of religion by few individuals

Panaji: National award-winning Marathi director Gajendra Ahire’s forthcoming movie ‘Swami Public Limited’ will take a dig at people blindly following self-styled godmen and the “business” made out of religion by few individuals.

“The film is about the things that are happening in the name of faith and religion by some of the so-called swamis. As a filmmaker and individual I felt it was my duty to comment on that. As an artist I have reacted to it,” Ahire, 45, informed.

The director conceded he does not expect the system or mindset of audience to change after watching the movie.

“I have not done this movie to change the system. It’s not my job. My work is to project the fallacies. And it is upto the individual how to take the signal which I have given through the movie,” he said.

The film is expected to hit theatres in August, across Maharashtra, with the producers charting out its extensive roll out even in rural parts of the state.

“Creative producer Vijay Munde came up with the idea of this film. After that I wrote the story and dialogues. But the basic idea was his,” the filmmaker said.

The first look of the film was unveiled during the recently held Goa Marathi Film Festival in Panaji.

Ahire, who has worked with veteran actor like Vikram Gokhale and Marathi debutante Saunskuti Kher in the movie, said the film is not influenced by any other similar projects.

“I have independently worked on this movie with my own ideas without getting influenced with the movies which are made on the similar lines. There is absolutely no question of taking reference of any similar movies,” he said.

While making a strong statement on the issue of blind faith, Ahire said that he has not considered whether he is hurting anyone’s sentiments.

“I have not taken into consideration whether I am hurting anyone’s religious sentiments or emotional sentiments. If I had to do that I would not have been able to give justice to the movie. I feel that since I have a liberty of freedom of expression than I should use it. I have not done this movie as a joke. I am making serious comments through this movie,” he commented.

“Whatever I felt after witnessing this trend of making business out of faith, I have portrayed through this film. This is not about any particular swami. Had I to do it that would have become personal grudge against someone. I am not against any person. I am against such a practice,” the filmmaker said.

Ahire said the movie does not say that the godmen are bad. “I am not saying that swamis are bad. The film is about weak hearted people who run after swamis,” he said.